Mikel transfer creates a riddle
Paul Hince

CHELSEA face the most severe sanctions ever imposed on a football club if FIFA investigators find that anyone representing the Premiership champions attempted to persuade John Obi Mikel to turn his back on Manchester United.

The bizarre transfer saga involving the Nigerian wonderkid, which has led to the full-scale probe by football´s world governing body, began on April 29 - one week after Obi´s 18th birthday. That was the day the midfielder agreed to move to Old Trafford on a four-year contract.

A day earlier, the Reds had negotiated a transfer fee with Obi´s Norwegian club FC Lyn Oslo, which was widely reported at 10 million euros.

As part of that deal, the two clubs agreed that Obi would continue to develop his fledgling professional career at Lyn Oslo before moving to Manchester permanently at a later stage once his work-permit qualifications had been met.

[...]

Because of the international aspect, the English Premier League have passed over United´s request for an investigation to FIFA, who must now decide whether Chelsea had any influence over Obi´s change of heart.

Although the talented young midfielder appended his signature to a pre-contract document rather than a contract itself, the agreement he made with United is legally binding. Obi has no option now but to report for duty at Old Trafford when he is cleared to work in this country.

Having already received the first instalment of the player´s transfer fee from the Reds, FC Lyn Oslo cannot give permission to any other club to speak to Obi with a view to signing him.

After their highly-publicised and costly breaches of football regulations last season, Chelsea will be only too aware that if they are deemed by FIFA to have made an illegal approach to Obi, they will almost certainly start the defence of their Premiership title in August with a massive points deduction as well as a fine of such proportions that it would make a dent in Roman Abramovich´s bank balance.

Aprés l´affaire Arnesen Chelsea pourrait débuter le championnat avec trois points en moins, aprés les affaires Cole et Mikel ils vont finir par commencer le championnat à -10 ou -15 ^^ D´autant plus que Milan n´est pas trés content qu´ils aient contacté Kaladze sans leur autorisation. Apparemment Chelsea a fait l´approche illégale de trop avec Mikel, ils risquent gros ce coup-ci...

lmarco chapeau

Ahhh les petits joueurs ces mancuniens...

pfffffffffffff arrete va tu croi que les jouerus de la roma st meilleur . ............ laisse moi rire!!!!!!!!!!

Un point sur l´état financier du club, par l´Independent:

Glazer´s plans silent on repaying loans
By Nick Harris
11 June 2005

As confirmation arrived yesterday that Malcolm Glazer will raise Manchester United ticket prices by 54 per cent in the next five years to help fund his takeover, it emerged that his detailed, 100-page business plan makes no mention of how he intends to pay back £275m in loans from hedge funds. The omission suggests that either he will repay the money from personal funds, perhaps by selling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or else he will refinance the debt and load it on to United´s books, in which case his business plan would become unsustainable.

Glazer´s figures already work on the assumption that United will compete in the *********´ League every season, and that they will make the quarter-finals at least every third year. A similar assumption, which proved erroneous, started Leeds United´s descent into financial meltdown. If Glazer does not use private, non-United means to repay the hedge funds, lack of on-pitch success could be financially crippling within two years.

A leaked copy of Glazer´s plan shows that interest repayments alone on a separate block of £374m bank debt will total £22.8m next year, falling to £11.8m by 2010. Glazer anticipates this will be funded through increased ticket prices and a 76 per cent increase in United´s commercial revenues. No detail has been made public on how such an increase will be achieved, although new sponsorship events and exhibition games in Tampa are expected to raise £5.6m a year. " The idea is that there is a continuation of the international tours and when United are in the United States they´ll use the Tampa grounds," a source said. Glazer expects to increase United´s total turnover by 52 per cent to £245.6m by 2010, which is not unattainable as long as Old Trafford continues to be filled and United never fail to make the *********´ League proper.

That still leaves the question of the pay-in-kind securities issued to the hedge funds in return for £275m. These accrue interest of some 20 per cent annually, which accumulates and pays out when they mature in 2015. However, if the money is not repaid in full by August 2010, by which time they would cost £641m to clear, the hedge funds will gain control of United. " The Piks are a ticking bomb," said Howard Lacy, a director of Inner Circle Sports, a sports finance adviser. " Manchester United is now in a dangerous position."

David Gill, United´s chief executive, and Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, evidently disagree that United are in peril, having agreed to work indefinitely for the Glazer regime. Ferguson has been assured that he will receive a transfer budget of just over £25m per season until 2010, with another £25m in total available if necessary. United´s fans will ultimately foot the bill through higher ticket prices. The cost of an average seat is expected to rise from less than £30 now - a mid-range price in the Premiership - to £46 by 2010. Glazer´s son, Joel, who is likely to become United´s chairman and take a hands-on role in running the club, is planning to make public some of his ambitions for the club soon after the official offer period ends.

That could be as soon as Monday, which is the first closing date for remaining shareholders to accept the family´s 300p-per-share off. On the other hand, it could be months away, if the Glazers face legal challenges or resistance from shareholders unwilling to sell. The Glazers owned just over 76 per cent of United when they launched their formal offer, and increased their holding yesterday when Gill and United´s finance director, Nick Humby, sold them 11,535 and 2,546 shares respectively.

Edwin van der Sar´s move to United from Fulham was finalised yesterday. The keeper signed a two-year deal after passing a medical

Le championnat du monde des -20 va bientôt commencer, Spector en interview ( trés interessante): http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=182260&itype=113&iCategoryID=0

ls rumeurs du jour . .

comme les négociations du contrat ont échoué entre ronaldo et MU celui se dirigerait vers le real pour 30 millions plus owen . .

Fegie veut jouer comme l´équipe d´angleterre

rooney owen

ruud

la piste gattuso est réactivé car glazer veut a tout pix le signer pur calmer les supporteurs . ..

j´adorerais une attaque

rooney owen

ruud

je detesterais perdre ronaldo . .

Ronaldo ne partira pas cet été, il lui reste 3 ans de contrat donc on a le temps et en plus il n´y a rien d´officiel...

Gattuso, j´y crois pas du tout, il est sous contrat jusqu´en 2009 et Ancelotti compte beaucoup sur lui.

UNITED STUDY GATTUSO OPTION
by Nadia Carminati - created on 11 Jun 2005

Manchester United are reported to be considering making a major move for Milan´s Gennaro Gattuso.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been interested in Gattuso before, while the player himself has spoken of his admiration for United.

However, the Italy international has a contract at San Siro until 2009 and Carlo Ancelotti sees him as a key member of his squad for next season.

Milan have claimed that Gattuso will not be going anywhere, but United are thought to be weighing up a big money bid for the former Rangers man.

Reports in Italy have suggested that United´s move is emanating from new owner Malcolm Glazer, who wants to try and ease his relationship with the club´s fans by sanctioning a big-name signing

On ne l´aura pas de toute façon, faut pas rêver ^^

MIRROR

Sir Alex Ferguson will be offered a new three-year deal by Manchester United

Si Mikel vient, on ne saura qu´en janvier si on a besoin d´un nouveau milieu defensif.

Gattuso serait un des joueurs idéaux pour Manchester...
Mais j´y crois pas trop

mais qui pourra remplacer keano a son poste la est la question

Van der Sar looking forward to fresh start at United
By Our Sports Staff

EDWIN VAN DER SAR’S move to Manchester United was finalised yesterday after the goalkeeper passed a medical. As expected, the 34-year-old has signed a two-year deal at Old Trafford after an undisclosed fee was agreed with Fulham.
“I am delighted to have signed,” Van der Sar said. “I’m looking forward to joining my new team-mates to start preparations for the new season, which promises to be one of the most exciting of my career.” Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, has been looking for a goalkeeper after releasing Roy Carroll and Ricardo.

“Edwin brings a wealth of experience to the team. He is an international goalkeeper with proven class,” Ferguson said. The manager had been linked with a number of high-profile goalkeepers, although he is not believed to have the funds to bid for the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, of Juventus.

Van der Sar, who could be a short-term solution while Tim Howard gains experience, was linked with United in January only to sign a contract extension at Fulham until the summer of 2006. At the time Van der Sar admitted that he would probably not have signed a new deal if either United or Arsenal had come in with a firm bid.

Ji Sung Park, who is being chased by United, believes that he would not find it hard to adapt to the Barclays Premiership if he decides to sign for the club. The South Korea and PSV Eindhoven midfield player, who helped his country to qualify for next summer’s World Cup with a goal in their 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, is considering the move.

“I don’t think that it would be difficult to adapt,” he said. “I need to think not only about football but also about living conditions there, and I have already been considering it.”

franchement, si ronaldo part c´est la merde ! faut trop qu´il reste ! je suis sur qu´au real il va rien faire , il vont le mettre sur le banc comme avec owen ! nan moi jvous le dit ronaldo il a sa place qu´a manchester . ..

De toute facon ce ne sont que des rumeurs il ne faut pas trop prendre sa au serieux

je ne sait pas si ( saha) été mis :

MU et les fils à papa...
07/06/2005

Glazer toujours aussi apprécié parmi les fans de MU... Glazer toujours aussi apprécié parmi les fans de MU...
Après avoir déclenché l´ire du public d´Old-Trafford en s´emparant des commandes de Manchester United en mai dernier, Malcolm Glazer a débuté dans la coulisse sa refonte du club. Aux démissions conjuguées du président de MU, Roy Gardner, et de deux autres directeurs mancuniens ont répondu mardi, afin de compenser ces départs, les nominations des trois fils du magnat américain, Joel ( 38 ans), Avram ( 44) et Bryan ( 40), à des postes de directeurs non-exécutifs. Déjà détenteur de 76,2% du capital de MU, Glazer ambitionne désormais le rachat de leurs parts aux petits actionnaires...

Rio Ferdinand´s agent, Pini Zahavi, has indicated that the England defender will soon sign a new contract worth £100,000 a week.

Zahavi said: " The Glazer takeover and the fact that I have business matters to handle in Israel, and in other places like Milan, has slowed things down. But I´m confident that Rio will eventually stay at Old Trafford."

Glazer takeover ´nearly complete´

Malcolm Glazer is believed to be on the point of gaining complete ownership of the world´s richest football club, Manchester United.

Shareholders have until 1500 BST on Monday to accept the US tycoon´s 300 pence a share takeover offer.

But according to a Reuters report Mr Glazer already has more than 89.7% of the shares, and is expected to have more than 90% of shares on Monday.

The last published update showed ownership of more than 76%.

The Glazer family, through its Red Football bid vehicle, already has control of the club with its 75% ownership.

Done deal

If they reach 97.5% the family will have the right to force a compulsory purchase of any remaining shares, most of which are in the hands of loyal Man United fans who have promised to fight the US tycoon to the final whistle.

Pressure group Shareholders United ( SU) is threatening to take court action to " make life difficult" for the Glazers.

" If he gets to less than 95% then 5% of shareholders can go and take him to court to block the special resolution to take the company private," said Shareholders United chief Nick Towle told the BBC.

" He certainly gets control of the company and will certainly end up with more than 90%, that is my guess."

Shareholders have been particularly concerned about the high level of debt involved in the controversial deal.

More than one-third of Mr Glazer´s £790m offer is being secured against United´s assets, such as its Old Trafford stadium.

A further £275m will come from loans from three US hedge funds.

Mr Glazer made his formal offer to the Manchester United´s shareholders on 12 May after taking his holding to 76.2% and the company´s board accepted his offer.

Debt doubts

Man United´s board said the deal represented good business, despite holding reservations over whether the bid was in the " best interests of the company".

Malcolm Glazer has since said there will be no dividends to any remaining shareholders - making their stakes effectively worthless.

Mr Glazer´s plans for the club are also believed to include raising its revenues by 52% by 2010, meaning that ticket prices at about £30 could rise to about £45.

His offer document also pointed towards the removal of Man United shares from the London Stock Exchange on 22 June.

If that happens, then fans will have no further comeback against the Glazer family.

Meanwhile, they are continuing to build a " phoenix fund" for supporters to pour cash into received from selling their shares to Red Football.

Shareholders United hopes the fund will have enough money to invest in the club if the Glazer family relinquishes control in the future.

" We want to show him we are not going to roll over and die," said SU´s Nick Towle.